ACNM Bylaws

2015 Bylaws Revision and Member Vote

At the ACNM 60th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, held June 27-July 1, 2015, ACNM members voted to approve comprehensive revisions to the ACNM Bylaws via a single amendment. At the same meeting, they rejected a separate amendment to impose a 5-year limit on how often an amendment to change the name of the organization may be brought to the membership for a vote. Click here for a copy of ACNM's current Bylaws.

Background

First adopted in 1955, the ACNM Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
are the guiding documents which define the structure and function of
all areas of the organization.

Beginning in 2014, the ACNM Bylaws Committee completed a thorough review of ACNM's Bylaws, which included input from members, volunteer leadership, and a full legal review.

Two Bylaws Amendments were presented to members for a vote in conjunction with the 2015 Board election: a general revision of the full bylaws document (Amendment #1), and new language proposing a 5-year provision on how frequently an amendment to change the name of the organization may be brought to ACNM members for a vote (Amendment #2).

Article XVII
Section B of the Bylaws requires that at least 20% of Active Members return
ballots in order for an amendment to be adopted, and only 18.05% of Active
Members submitted valid ballots. As a result, these amendments were presented
for a vote at the Annual Business Meeting at ACNM’s 60th Annual
Meeting & Exhibition at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention
Center. In order to pass at the Business Meeting, ACNM bylaws require that amendments
be approved by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the voting members present.

Amendment #1: General Revision

Amendment #1 was brought to the floor for debate at the Opening Business meeting on June 29. The Bylaws Committee brought forth an amendment to Article II Section A, which involved revising a new mission statement to match the most recent mission statement developed by ACNM as part of its recent strategic planning process. This amendment to update the mission statement passed with a voice vote.

A second amendment to the mission statement in Article II Section A was brought forth by an ACNM member, but was not voted on at the Opening Business Meeting as the meeting ran out of time. Debate on Amendment #1 continued at the Closing Business Meeting on July 1, beginning with the proposed language changes to Article II Section A. This amendment also passed with a voice vote.

Following these 2 new amendments to the mission statement, Amendment #1, the entire general revision of the ACNM Bylaws, passed on the floor by a voice vote.

Amendment #2: Name Change Amendment

There was considerable debate on Amendment #2, which proposed to limit the frequency of amendments to change the name of the organization to once every five years. This amendment was rejected by a voice vote at the Closing Business Meeting on July 1.

ACNM Bylaws Committee

The ACNM Bylaws Committee reviews all
proposed changes to ACNM and ACNM Affiliate bylaws, as well as Standing
Rules of Procedure (SROPs) for the volunteer structure of ACNM
(divisions, committees, task forces, and caucuses). Upon their review,
the committee makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors for
approval at quarterly Board meetings.

Support the Teresa Marsico Memorial Fund and Help Fulfill ACNM’s Strategic Plan

Donors to the A.C.N.M. Foundation can help ACNM achieve their 2015-2020 Strategic Plan by designating their monies to the “Marsico Fund” when making contributions at: http://www.midwife.org/charitable-contributions